Missingno. Master
Poison-type Trainer
I know Groundhog Day isn't for 50 more days, but I've been working on this story for some time now.
The Boy who Saved Groundhog Day
It was a wonderful day in Wintertown. Wintertown was a nice, quiet town, where all the residents loved the season of winter. Out of all the other seasons, winter was their favorite, because they thought summer was too hot, spring had too many bees, and fall/autumn caused numerous arguments over what the official name was. Also, the residents loved winter because of the snow, because it was the best time of year to have hot chocolate, the town’s national beverage, and because of Christmas.
However, after the festiveness of Christmas, and the excitement of New Year, there came a time of much excitement and hopefulness. This time was February 2nd, A.K.A., Groundhog Day.
Now, to you and me (well, maybe not so much to me), Groundhog Day is just a seemingly ordinary day, when it’s determined whether winter ends early, or lasts another 6 weeks. Well, Groundhog Day was a big deal in Wintertown, for that same reason. Remember, these people love winter above all, so they would obviously love a holiday where winter’s duration is determined.
Anyway, back to the story.
In the middle of Wintertown, in a small brick house next door to the local Italian restaurant, there lived a father, his wife, and their son. They were the Robbs. The parents were great people, and they treated their son, Roy, with great loving care. And, like all the residents of Wintertown, they shared a great love of winter, and Groundhog Day. In fact, at that moment, the Robbs were decorating their house for Groundhog Day.
“Daddy, why don’t I get to hang the banner up?” Asked young 6-year-old Roy Robb. His father sighed with exasperation. “I told you already, Roy; you’re too young to hang the banner up!” Roy wasn’t happy about this. “But Daddy, you also said I was too young to dig the groundhog hole in the front lawn, and to put the spring-loaded groundhog in the hole, and to put brown lights around the hole, and-“His dad cut him off. “Roy, when you’re mature enough, you can help decorate.” “But Daddy, I am mature,” said Roy. His dad climbed off the ladder, and knelt down close to him.
“Roy, son, you can’t just hang up the decorations any old way you want. It has to follow family tradition. Why, take this groundhog hole mailbox cover for instance. It’s been tradition to put it around the mailbox opening since your great-Grandpa Wilson Robb made it. Our family hasn’t strayed from Groundhog Day traditions for generations. In fact, all we ever changed was adding these brown colored lights around the hole, and all over the house.” Roy kept quiet. He knew that he wasn’t going to change his father’s mind when he started talking about how it was family tradition.
The front door opened, and out stepped Mrs. Robb, Roy’s mother. “Dinnertime! I also finished the Groundhog Day Cookies!” she called out. Roy instantly felt happy; his mother was the absolute best cook in all of Wintertown. Roy’s dad called “All right dear! I’m just finishing the banner!” He then climbed down off the ladder, and stood back to admire his work.
Across the front of the house, the words “HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!” Were displayed across the front of the Robbs’ house. Cleverly, the Os in groundhog were made to look like a groundhog hole. Roy and his dad then went inside to enjoy their dinner.
Roy sat down at the table, and was presented with a dish of mashed potatoes. Roy’s mother then said “if you guys finish it all, you get cookies afterwards!” Roy and his dad then began to dig in greedily. Neither could resist the sweet temptation of Mrs. Robb’s freshly baked cookies. Roy then decided to forget the utensils, and plopped his face in the potatoes, and began eating like a pig eats out of a trough. Next to him, he heard the sloshing noises of his dad doing the same, as well as the amused chuckling of his mother. Seriously, her cookies were that good.
After the mashed potatoes were licked clean, and Roy and his dad wiped their faces, they then took a handful of cookies in the shapes of groundhogs & groundhog holes. Roy bit the head off one of the chocolate chip groundhog cookies. It was nice and chewy, the chips were moist; it was perfect. Roy continued eating his handful of cookies, savoring every bite.
After their cookie-induced bliss, Roy & his dad then went back outside so his dad could hang the lights, and so Roy could play in the snow and complain about not being allowed to help.
Later on, Roy and his dad came inside, having successfully put up all their Groundhog Day decorations. They turned the T.V. on, and started to watch SpongeBob SquarePants. However, just at the good part, there was an interruption. A weatherman appeared on screen, and he looked very grim.
We interrupt this program to bring you a special weather bulletin. February 2nd’s weather forecast is supposed to be very cloudy and dreary. Absolutely no sun at all. The groundhog ain’t seeing his shadow this year. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.”
A cry rang out throughout all the town; “NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”
Everybody was appalled at the thought of an early spring. Roy’s parents started breaking down into hysterical sobs. However, he thought different. He thought “perfect! This is just the opportunity for me to prove to Mommy and Daddy that I AM mature enough to help out with Groundhog Day! If that groundhog can’t see his shadow, I’ll MAKE him see it!” With that, he snuck off, leaving his parents still sniveling over this catastrophic turn of events.
Roy ran up to his room, and immediately grabbed his flashlight (pitch black, so it stands out if lost in the snow), his heavy coat, and a few spare snacks he hid under his bed, and snuck back downstairs. He snuck past his still sniveling parents, and went outside. Roy then tried to remember where the groundhog lived. He recalled his mother telling him once; “There are many groundhogs in the world, but there is also THE groundhog; the chosen groundhog, chosen at birth. When an old chosen groundhog dies, the new chosen groundhog takes over. And every February 2nd, also known as Groundhog Day, the chosen groundhog comes out of his hole. If he sees his shadow, he makes six more weeks of winter happen. If he doesn’t see his shadow, we have an early spring coming. A chosen groundhog always lives in the center hole on Groundhog Field. It’s very far away, and almost impossible to travel to in winter. The chosen groundhog lives in the roundest hole there.” Roy smiled, and set off down the street.
Roy reached the end of the street, as well as the Wintertown City Limits. He looked at the sign. It said “Groundhog Fields to the left, 99-cent convenience store to the right.” Roy loved those 99-cent convenience stores, but he had a mission. After all, it was already ten O’clock at night, and Groundhog Day was tomorrow! He had to make that groundhog see his shadow! He walked off to the left. However, a sudden gust of wind blew the paper off the sign, revealing it to say “Groundhog Fields 5 miles to the left”!
Roy began to notice that he was walking quite a distance after an hour. He began to get tired, so he sat down on a nearby rock. He asked a passing stranger “Excuse me, sir, but just how far away Groundhog Fields is?” The man replied “Well, little guy, it’s about three miles down that road,” and pointed down the road. “However, Wintertown is just two miles up the other way. Happy Groundhog Day!”
Three miles?! Roy couldn’t walk three whole miles! He thought that he should give up. Then, he remembered the other thing the stranger told him; “However, Wintertown is just two miles up the other way.” So, Roy had walked two miles already! That was more than he’d ever walked in his life! He said to himself “If I’ve already walked two miles, I can walk another three before tomorrow!” He took out a Twix bar, bit off a chunk, and said with his mouth full of Twix, “I’m goin’ for it!”
Roy had been walking for over an hour now. He was more tired than ever, but then he saw a sign by the roadside that read “You Are Now Entering Groundhog Fields”. He gasped; He was there at last! He took the flashlight out of his backpack, and searched for the chosen groundhog’s hole.
All the groundhog holes he came upon were all roughly dug. Not one of them was perfectly round. He looked for a long while, when suddenly, he found a perfectly round groundhog hole, much bigger than the rest! There was also a small box next to the hole with a green button on it. Roy had heard about this; the button was hooked up to the TV station. If their radar sensors detected that the groundhog pushed the button, then it was a sign that the groundhog had seen his shadow, and there was therefore six more weeks of winter. Roy of course couldn’t push the button himself; it was specifically designed so that it would only allow the chosen groundhog to touch it. Roy checked his watch; it was midnight! Roy then realized how very tired he was, so he laid down in the snow next to the hole, and went to sleep.
Roy awoke with a jolt. He checked his watch; 5:59! The groundhog would be coming out of his hole in one minute! Quickly, he took out his flashlight, and positioned it above the groundhog hole.
Back at home, Roy’s parents had been so upset over the prospect of a dark Groundhog Day that they never noticed Roy’s absence. They were watching the TV news anxiously, but according to the weatherman, it didn’t look good.
Back at Groundhog Fields, Roy’s watch gave a beep; 6:00! On cue, a majestic, furry creature rose out of the groundhog hole; it was the chosen groundhog! Roy switched on his flashlight immediately, and hoped that he would fool the groundhog.
Back at home, the newscaster was counting down to when they would know the groundhog’s verdict. “Five….. Four….. Three….. Two… One…..”
The newscaster was receiving the verdict from the Groundhog Decision Detector Team (GDDT). His eyes grew wide as he spoke rapidly and indistinctly into his headset. He then tore off the headset and spoke to the millions of viewers.
“Folks, the verdict has come in from Groundhog Fields. Now, unbelievably as it may sound, the chosen groundhog has decreed that…. There are six more weeks of wonderful winter coming our way!”
An uproarious cheer came up from the population of Wintertown. The newscaster then said “This just in; a small boy has been sighted near Groundhog Fields with a flashlight! Apparently, he shined the flashlight on the chosen groundhog to make him see his shadow. But it matters not; it fooled the groundhog into creating six more weeks of winter for us!” At that point, a picture of Roy exiting Groundhog Fields appeared on the screen. “ROY!” screamed Mrs. Robb. She immediately dashed out into the snow, and raced off towards Groundhog Fields.
Two miles away from Wintertown, Roy and his mother were reunited. Mrs. Robb then carried Roy back to town on her shoulders. When they got back, everybody cheered for Roy, the young boy who saved Groundhog Day. The entire town then decided to have one big Groundhog Day celebration in town hall, with the Robbs as the guests of honor.
That night at Groundhog Day dinner, Mrs. Robb proposed a toast; to Groundhog Day, to winter, to the chosen groundhog, and to Roy Robb. Mr. Robb then told Roy “From now on, Roy, you can help me put up the Groundhog Day decorations if you want.” For Roy, it had really been a very happy Groundhog Day.
It was a wonderful day in Wintertown. Wintertown was a nice, quiet town, where all the residents loved the season of winter. Out of all the other seasons, winter was their favorite, because they thought summer was too hot, spring had too many bees, and fall/autumn caused numerous arguments over what the official name was. Also, the residents loved winter because of the snow, because it was the best time of year to have hot chocolate, the town’s national beverage, and because of Christmas.
However, after the festiveness of Christmas, and the excitement of New Year, there came a time of much excitement and hopefulness. This time was February 2nd, A.K.A., Groundhog Day.
Now, to you and me (well, maybe not so much to me), Groundhog Day is just a seemingly ordinary day, when it’s determined whether winter ends early, or lasts another 6 weeks. Well, Groundhog Day was a big deal in Wintertown, for that same reason. Remember, these people love winter above all, so they would obviously love a holiday where winter’s duration is determined.
Anyway, back to the story.
In the middle of Wintertown, in a small brick house next door to the local Italian restaurant, there lived a father, his wife, and their son. They were the Robbs. The parents were great people, and they treated their son, Roy, with great loving care. And, like all the residents of Wintertown, they shared a great love of winter, and Groundhog Day. In fact, at that moment, the Robbs were decorating their house for Groundhog Day.
“Daddy, why don’t I get to hang the banner up?” Asked young 6-year-old Roy Robb. His father sighed with exasperation. “I told you already, Roy; you’re too young to hang the banner up!” Roy wasn’t happy about this. “But Daddy, you also said I was too young to dig the groundhog hole in the front lawn, and to put the spring-loaded groundhog in the hole, and to put brown lights around the hole, and-“His dad cut him off. “Roy, when you’re mature enough, you can help decorate.” “But Daddy, I am mature,” said Roy. His dad climbed off the ladder, and knelt down close to him.
“Roy, son, you can’t just hang up the decorations any old way you want. It has to follow family tradition. Why, take this groundhog hole mailbox cover for instance. It’s been tradition to put it around the mailbox opening since your great-Grandpa Wilson Robb made it. Our family hasn’t strayed from Groundhog Day traditions for generations. In fact, all we ever changed was adding these brown colored lights around the hole, and all over the house.” Roy kept quiet. He knew that he wasn’t going to change his father’s mind when he started talking about how it was family tradition.
The front door opened, and out stepped Mrs. Robb, Roy’s mother. “Dinnertime! I also finished the Groundhog Day Cookies!” she called out. Roy instantly felt happy; his mother was the absolute best cook in all of Wintertown. Roy’s dad called “All right dear! I’m just finishing the banner!” He then climbed down off the ladder, and stood back to admire his work.
Across the front of the house, the words “HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!” Were displayed across the front of the Robbs’ house. Cleverly, the Os in groundhog were made to look like a groundhog hole. Roy and his dad then went inside to enjoy their dinner.
Roy sat down at the table, and was presented with a dish of mashed potatoes. Roy’s mother then said “if you guys finish it all, you get cookies afterwards!” Roy and his dad then began to dig in greedily. Neither could resist the sweet temptation of Mrs. Robb’s freshly baked cookies. Roy then decided to forget the utensils, and plopped his face in the potatoes, and began eating like a pig eats out of a trough. Next to him, he heard the sloshing noises of his dad doing the same, as well as the amused chuckling of his mother. Seriously, her cookies were that good.
After the mashed potatoes were licked clean, and Roy and his dad wiped their faces, they then took a handful of cookies in the shapes of groundhogs & groundhog holes. Roy bit the head off one of the chocolate chip groundhog cookies. It was nice and chewy, the chips were moist; it was perfect. Roy continued eating his handful of cookies, savoring every bite.
After their cookie-induced bliss, Roy & his dad then went back outside so his dad could hang the lights, and so Roy could play in the snow and complain about not being allowed to help.
Later on, Roy and his dad came inside, having successfully put up all their Groundhog Day decorations. They turned the T.V. on, and started to watch SpongeBob SquarePants. However, just at the good part, there was an interruption. A weatherman appeared on screen, and he looked very grim.
We interrupt this program to bring you a special weather bulletin. February 2nd’s weather forecast is supposed to be very cloudy and dreary. Absolutely no sun at all. The groundhog ain’t seeing his shadow this year. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.”
A cry rang out throughout all the town; “NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”
Everybody was appalled at the thought of an early spring. Roy’s parents started breaking down into hysterical sobs. However, he thought different. He thought “perfect! This is just the opportunity for me to prove to Mommy and Daddy that I AM mature enough to help out with Groundhog Day! If that groundhog can’t see his shadow, I’ll MAKE him see it!” With that, he snuck off, leaving his parents still sniveling over this catastrophic turn of events.
Roy ran up to his room, and immediately grabbed his flashlight (pitch black, so it stands out if lost in the snow), his heavy coat, and a few spare snacks he hid under his bed, and snuck back downstairs. He snuck past his still sniveling parents, and went outside. Roy then tried to remember where the groundhog lived. He recalled his mother telling him once; “There are many groundhogs in the world, but there is also THE groundhog; the chosen groundhog, chosen at birth. When an old chosen groundhog dies, the new chosen groundhog takes over. And every February 2nd, also known as Groundhog Day, the chosen groundhog comes out of his hole. If he sees his shadow, he makes six more weeks of winter happen. If he doesn’t see his shadow, we have an early spring coming. A chosen groundhog always lives in the center hole on Groundhog Field. It’s very far away, and almost impossible to travel to in winter. The chosen groundhog lives in the roundest hole there.” Roy smiled, and set off down the street.
Roy reached the end of the street, as well as the Wintertown City Limits. He looked at the sign. It said “Groundhog Fields to the left, 99-cent convenience store to the right.” Roy loved those 99-cent convenience stores, but he had a mission. After all, it was already ten O’clock at night, and Groundhog Day was tomorrow! He had to make that groundhog see his shadow! He walked off to the left. However, a sudden gust of wind blew the paper off the sign, revealing it to say “Groundhog Fields 5 miles to the left”!
Roy began to notice that he was walking quite a distance after an hour. He began to get tired, so he sat down on a nearby rock. He asked a passing stranger “Excuse me, sir, but just how far away Groundhog Fields is?” The man replied “Well, little guy, it’s about three miles down that road,” and pointed down the road. “However, Wintertown is just two miles up the other way. Happy Groundhog Day!”
Three miles?! Roy couldn’t walk three whole miles! He thought that he should give up. Then, he remembered the other thing the stranger told him; “However, Wintertown is just two miles up the other way.” So, Roy had walked two miles already! That was more than he’d ever walked in his life! He said to himself “If I’ve already walked two miles, I can walk another three before tomorrow!” He took out a Twix bar, bit off a chunk, and said with his mouth full of Twix, “I’m goin’ for it!”
Roy had been walking for over an hour now. He was more tired than ever, but then he saw a sign by the roadside that read “You Are Now Entering Groundhog Fields”. He gasped; He was there at last! He took the flashlight out of his backpack, and searched for the chosen groundhog’s hole.
All the groundhog holes he came upon were all roughly dug. Not one of them was perfectly round. He looked for a long while, when suddenly, he found a perfectly round groundhog hole, much bigger than the rest! There was also a small box next to the hole with a green button on it. Roy had heard about this; the button was hooked up to the TV station. If their radar sensors detected that the groundhog pushed the button, then it was a sign that the groundhog had seen his shadow, and there was therefore six more weeks of winter. Roy of course couldn’t push the button himself; it was specifically designed so that it would only allow the chosen groundhog to touch it. Roy checked his watch; it was midnight! Roy then realized how very tired he was, so he laid down in the snow next to the hole, and went to sleep.
Roy awoke with a jolt. He checked his watch; 5:59! The groundhog would be coming out of his hole in one minute! Quickly, he took out his flashlight, and positioned it above the groundhog hole.
Back at home, Roy’s parents had been so upset over the prospect of a dark Groundhog Day that they never noticed Roy’s absence. They were watching the TV news anxiously, but according to the weatherman, it didn’t look good.
Back at Groundhog Fields, Roy’s watch gave a beep; 6:00! On cue, a majestic, furry creature rose out of the groundhog hole; it was the chosen groundhog! Roy switched on his flashlight immediately, and hoped that he would fool the groundhog.
Back at home, the newscaster was counting down to when they would know the groundhog’s verdict. “Five….. Four….. Three….. Two… One…..”
The newscaster was receiving the verdict from the Groundhog Decision Detector Team (GDDT). His eyes grew wide as he spoke rapidly and indistinctly into his headset. He then tore off the headset and spoke to the millions of viewers.
“Folks, the verdict has come in from Groundhog Fields. Now, unbelievably as it may sound, the chosen groundhog has decreed that…. There are six more weeks of wonderful winter coming our way!”
An uproarious cheer came up from the population of Wintertown. The newscaster then said “This just in; a small boy has been sighted near Groundhog Fields with a flashlight! Apparently, he shined the flashlight on the chosen groundhog to make him see his shadow. But it matters not; it fooled the groundhog into creating six more weeks of winter for us!” At that point, a picture of Roy exiting Groundhog Fields appeared on the screen. “ROY!” screamed Mrs. Robb. She immediately dashed out into the snow, and raced off towards Groundhog Fields.
Two miles away from Wintertown, Roy and his mother were reunited. Mrs. Robb then carried Roy back to town on her shoulders. When they got back, everybody cheered for Roy, the young boy who saved Groundhog Day. The entire town then decided to have one big Groundhog Day celebration in town hall, with the Robbs as the guests of honor.
That night at Groundhog Day dinner, Mrs. Robb proposed a toast; to Groundhog Day, to winter, to the chosen groundhog, and to Roy Robb. Mr. Robb then told Roy “From now on, Roy, you can help me put up the Groundhog Day decorations if you want.” For Roy, it had really been a very happy Groundhog Day.